| 摘要 |
Multiple "green" ceramic sheets are formed from a particulate ceramic material and a volatilisable organic binder, have individually printed thereupon a pattern containing conductor metal/metal oxide material from a suitable printing composition, and are thereafter assembled in registry with each other and laminated. Each such article is subjected to a heat treatment comprising a first heating stage under conditions to promote burn-out of the organic polymeric binder present, a second stage performed under conditions to reduce the metal oxide to metal, and a third stage to sinter the ceramic to form the final ceramic article. Moisture (water vapour) is present in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 3% volume of the gaseous atmosphere in at least the sintering stage, and preferably in both the binder burn-out stage and the reduction stage as well. Multilayered articles heat treated under these conditions exhibit a combination of improved properties, including little or no staining in combination with improved conductivity and dielectric properties. In a preferred embodiment, the present method may be performed as a continuous process without the need for cool-down and heat-up of the laminate, in a continuous furnace with an atmosphere that is microprocessor-controlled. Catalytic generation of the moisture containing heating atmosphere may be utilised to further reduce cost and processing time while increasing process efficiency and productivity. <IMAGE> |
